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The nexta lunch for Alex As he ate, his conteaze followed her flurry of activity silently Later, when she kissed hioodbye at the door, he pulled her close and kissed her ardently For the first tier for hih theshe did before she left wasit in the holster and strapping it down, she headed for the hospital

The tere healthy and acceptable weight, so they released Katie Caret settled in with the babies Bill was standing around looking unco what to do

Caret hoot off work Once ho hen and put it in a pan She shoved it in the oven, set the ti later with a basket of eggs, she discovered that in her haste she had not turned the oven on It was too late to heat up the oven and bake the chicken, so she cut it up and fried it It was actually too large for a frying chicken, but it worked She was finishing the gravy when Alex caet washed up," she called to hi water into the skillet to let it soak when Alex caainst hiravy and water on her shirt

"Alex!" she cried, brushing the mess from her shirt before it could sink into the fabric

"I’rabbed a towel and daubed water and gravy from her shirt and the counter top It wasn’t his fault she was in such a rush tonight

"It’s alright," she said as she turned Not wanting to get thehim "I should have been azed down at her with a wary expression on his face and in his eyes Finally he shrugged

"Hoas your day?"

"Katie got to bring the babies home today, so I followed her home and helped her with them for a while"

"Where was Bill?"

"He was there, but he didn’t knohat to do"

Alex studied her for a few moments "I see," he finally said He turned to the table "Well, if it’s ready, let’s eat I’ly, the chicken wasn’t tough, though it was a little greasy If Alex noticed anything, he gave no indication He sireat ot dark

That evening he received a call in his office When he ca

"There is a lady down in Texas who has a Longhorn cow she wants to sell"

He folded his arms and ran a hand over his chin reflectively

"I need to build another corral – or put the buffalo sohorn where the buffalo are They’re pretty much acclimated now"

"Does that mean I can feed them now?" Carmen asked

His smile was lopsided "Maybe - with specific instructions and precautions"

She sighed "Longhorns – they aren’t actually native American wildlife, are they?"